How not to install a steering column on a boat

[wildmaninal]

Simple steps on how to screw up a steering system replacement.

step 1. Disassemble old steering system from the driver's helm and place the woodruff key where the cat can find it and knock it off onto the ground.

step 2. You realize that all of sudden that you lost power to all the main accessories (bilge pump, aerator, etc etc). Steering cable knocked some wires loose on the battery when I pulled it through.

step 3. You realize that the new (used) steering cable is a bit to long and wonder why you didn't measure it before you started the whole project.

step 4. Leave all the loose parts in place on the steering column then forget about them, then maneuver the steering column and lose the parts that you forgot about.

step 5. Run the steering cable through the hull without taping the nut to the end of it, pull the cable back out once you noticed the nut didn't make it through then tape the nut to the end of the cable then try again.

step 6. You realize you might of been better off just buying a new steering cable for the old steering system that was on the boat in the first place.

step 7. Aww heck the hole in the driver's helm is to big for the new steering system to mount in, cut a piece of plywood out to patch the hole and continue the install.

I did manage to get the steering column installed. Even though the cable is a foot or so to long it should work fine. How this all started is I had a different steering column out of a boat that I stripped and I knew the cable was in better shape then the one on my bass boat so I said what the heck, let's replace the whole thing. I really didn't think that it would turn into an all afternoon project though, in 40 something degree weather. Should of been a 1 hour job tops, shouldn't of been any longer. I had to install a steering system in the boat when I first got the hull, I just used the boat with stiff steering for a while then I finally got tired of it. All the lost parts were found, even the woodruff key, here I took the metal detector out to find it along with a big magnet, then I just happened to look over to a certain spot and there it layed. I set the woodruff key on the 4 wheeler seat so I knew where it would be, I didn't think nothing of my cat being around, the next thing I know I walk over to get the key and it's gone. Darn cat will play with anything.

 

[j_martin]

Re: How not to install a steering column on a boat

Thanks.
A lot of us won't feel so all alone anymore.
John

 

[salty87]

Re: How not to install a steering column on a boat

kinda makes me want to go work on the boat. good times

 

[david_r]

Re: How not to install a steering column on a boat

yep.........ive had few projects that went about the same way.....seems to happen to me more so when i have something planned for later on in hte day....like fishing.


i like to see the look on my buddies faces when i say yeah we are almost ready we just need to do this and this real fast before we go.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: How not to install a steering column on a boat

If you ask me there should be more post like this in SHTWB/F that way some of us might learn the right way to do something . In other words learn from other peoples mistakes.

I haven't took the boat out sense the install. The pitch of the steering wheel is different now compared to what it was, before it was angled up, now it's facing straight out. Plus the steering wheel is sticking out further then the last one. So I hope my 6'2" self can still be comfortable when sitting at the helm, might just be a tight fit.

I don't know what in the world some of these boat manufactures were thinking when building such a short driver's helm, they weren't building their boats with comfort in mind. My boat's helm has a decent/comfy height to it compared to allot of other boats I've seen.

 

[mudslinging79]

Re: How not to install a steering column on a boat

thank god i "upgraded" to a smaller boat with a tiller on the motor. first boat was a 68 12 footer, with the cable/drum set-up. took me forever to figure out how to wrap it the right way when replacing the cable.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: How not to install a steering column on a boat

thank god i "upgraded" to a smaller boat with a tiller on the motor. first boat was a 68 12 footer, with the cable/drum set-up. took me forever to figure out how to wrap it the right way when replacing the cable.

Oh come on those old 2 cable steering systems aint that bad . I'm not going to lie I had a little fit trying to get the tension just right when installing the cables on the old aluminum boat just 2 months ago if not longer but I got the job done.

The time may come where you might have to deal with the teleflex steering cables. Besides the rough time I had with installing the (new) used steering system, I also had a heck of a time installing the original cable on the 85hp motor when I installed the motor on the hull. I didn't know I messed up the threads on the tube or pipe (whatever you wanna call it) that slides through the motor mount. I stripped out 3 aluminum nuts on the steering cable before I finally replaced the tube, which cost me $30 for a used one if I remember right, plus whatever he charged me for the stainles steel steering cable nut.

 

[INJUN]

Re: How not to install a steering column on a boat

I once purchased a used 69-17ft glass boat without an engine, but it had the single cable installed, somewhat. It had no cable hold down to the boat at the engine. Once I installed the o/b motor, the cable end was beyond the center point for attachment to the motor by about 20".
Solution; I routed a 2x4 lenghtwise to form a U shape, letting the cable settle into the U. I then used 2 U-clamps to secure it all to the motor well with backing wood underneath. This secured the cable to the boatand didn't allow slipping.
To get the cable end to connect backward to the center of the motor, I used 1/2" galv. angle iron, cut to length, with a hole on each end to secure to the motor's steering arm and to the cables' end hole. I had to insure that center of the steering wheel (over to over) met with motor's straight ahead position.
I won't say how many steps it took, as you described, but it worked fine for years and is probably still going strong.
Planning sure paid out on that one.